The marquee development reshaping Ashland City is the Mid TN Riverport, first announced as the Ashland City River Port. It is a $33 million public-private inland freight port on a 40-acre Cumberland River site, built by Ingram Marine Group with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and Cheatham County. As of July 2026 the pier was complete, work on the rest of the site was ongoing, and the port was expected to open in December 2026.
The single biggest current project in Ashland City is the river port TDOT announced on May 19, 2025 as the Ashland City River Port, now called the Mid TN Riverport. It is a multimodal, multi-commodity inland river port structured as a public-private partnership among the State of Tennessee, Cheatham County, and Ingram Marine Group (Ingram Barge's parent).
Investment and funding split: The total project is valued at $33 million. Ingram Marine Group is funding the $30 million construction of the port facilities, while TDOT contributed $3 million in state connectivity funds to build the pier. Cheatham County identified the land for the site.
Size and location: The port occupies a 40-acre site at mile marker 162 on the Cumberland River, about 20 miles downriver from Nashville, with access via Thompson Road in Cheatham County's industrial park. It sits within 10 miles of Interstates 40 and 65, with potential rail access to CSX via the Nashville & Western Railroad, which positions it as a freight hub for the Nashville metro.
Scope: Phase 1 includes a fixed dock, a multi-commodity warehouse, and site improvements. Per The Waterways Journal, the site has 400 feet of river frontage and 40,000 square feet of climate-controlled storage, and will handle breakbulk and bulk cargo such as wire rod, rubber, rebar, aluminum, and cement. An economic analysis was provided by Younger Associates.
Timeline and status: Construction began after the 2025 announcement. A July 2025 WKRN report cited a summer 2026 completion target, but a July 2, 2026 Waterways Journal report said pier construction was complete, work on the rest of the site was ongoing, and the Mid TN Riverport was expected to open in December 2026.
Officials quoted: Deputy Governor Butch Eley called it a 'forward-thinking' solution to Tennessee's infrastructure needs; Ingram Marine CEO John Roberts said the port will let the company 'move a variety of dry goods more efficiently and effectively to better serve Tennessee businesses.'
Secondary/related development context (factual): Cheatham County leaders have also discussed pursuing land for an industrial park and a multiplex to draw sporting events, and Ashland City has active residential new-construction activity. A separately referenced 'Pleasant View Village' (56-acre traditional neighborhood development with retail/commercial plus row houses and single-family homes) is in the broader Cheatham County area, not Ashland City proper. These are lower-magnitude than the river port and less firmly sourced; the river port is the clear marquee project.
- Project
- Mid TN Riverport (announced as Ashland City River Port); inland multimodal freight port
- Developer / Partners
- Ingram Marine Group + TDOT + Cheatham County (public-private partnership)
- Total Investment
- $33 million ($30M Ingram port + $3M TDOT pier)
- Site Size
- 40 acres; 400 feet of river frontage
- Location
- Mile marker 162, Cumberland River; Thompson Road, Cheatham County industrial park, Ashland City
- Phase 1 Scope
- Fixed dock, multi-commodity warehouse, site improvements
- Storage
- 40,000 sq ft climate-controlled
- Cargo
- Breakbulk and bulk dry goods: wire rod, rubber, rebar, aluminum, cement
- Construction
- Pier complete; remaining site work ongoing (as of July 2026)
- Expected Opening
- December 2026 (per The Waterways Journal, July 2026)
- Status
- Under construction